The artwork titled “Italian models” was created by the renowned artist Ilya Repin in the year 1870. Repin, a master of the Realism movement, sought to capture life as it was, and his skill is evident in this portrait which deftly encapsulates the essence of its subjects. “Italian models” stands as a testimony to the period’s artistic ethos, characterized by a focus on the real and the everyday, rather than the idealized or romanticized.
In this realistic portrait, two figures are depicted, offering a glimpse of Italian life through Repin’s eyes. The figure on the left stands erect and dons a black suit with a dark overcoat, attention drawn to his rugged face and full beard, underscored by a wide-brimmed hat casting a shadow over his eyes. This male figure exudes a sense of weary experience, hinted at by the slight stoop of his shoulders and the contemplative gaze directed downward.
Beside him, the seated figure, in stark contrast, wears a bright red garment offset by a white shirt, with a relaxed posture and a peculiarly shaped hat rests on his head. His countenance reflects a different sort of life, perhaps more carefree or less burdened by the toils that the standing figure seems to suggest.
The interaction—or lack thereof—between these two models is intriguing, raising questions about their relationship and the context of their portrayal. The unfinished nature of the painting, particularly around the seated figure where contours and clothing details are only implied, gives an insight into Repin’s process and draws the viewer’s focus to the more fully realized upper halves of the characters. The juxtaposition of the completed and sketched parts adds a layer of dynamism to the artwork, a hallmark of the creative freedom enjoyed by artists of the Realism movement.
